Schools Programme

The contribution that the schools have made to Welsh Rugby, its development and progress, has been absolutely vital to the game in this country.

Successive generations of dedicated teachers, have sustained the game in the schools with a long and distinguished tradition.

Children are often introduced to the game of rugby at school, with tag and touch the usual first ports of call. The WRU strives to ensure that the level of coaching is of a high standard and that the game is played in an enjoyable manner.

As children get older and improve their skills they can move towards the more competitive seven or 15-a-side forms of the game. There is no limit to how far children can go, but the foundations are crucial, which is where schools come in.

Our development Officers work closely with Teachers and 'Active Young Persons Officers' in delivering a programme of Festivals and School Visits to give young players in both Primary and Secondary Education a positive experience of the game.

In the forthcoming season our development officers will strive to give all Primary schools in Wales an opportunity to participate in at least 3 Festival within their cluster group.

In a new initiative our development officers will offer Secondary Schools an opportunity to participate in Yr 7&8 Festivals where they will be asked to supply 2 teams for each festival and both scores will be added together to create a result, this will give young pupils that do not make their 1st school team a chance to represent the school and enjoy a positive rugby experience.

At U'15's we have the Dewar Shield National Competition where schools Districts compete initially in pools and the results determine then weather the District then plays in the Main Cup, Plate or Shield competition.

At Senior Schools we have a National Tertiary Collage League and also a National Schools League.

It's the biggest game of the Guinness Six Nations so far and Principality Stadium manager Mark Williams is encouraging Welsh and English fans to get in early for the third round clash in Cardiff this Saturday.

Wales U20 may have been beaten by an impressive French outfit in Vannes,but they certainly weren't unbowed at Stade de la Rabine with head coach Gareth Williams full of praise for his young warriors after going toe to toe with the junior world champions in a fiercely competitive Six Nations clash.

With less than 12 months until the 2019 Rugby World Cup, head coach Warren Gatland tells WRU TV where Wales are on the road to Japan, reflecting on the past 12 months and and looking ahead to what are his final months at the helm.

The Welsh Exiles programme continues to go from strength to strength. With a dramatic increase of non-Wales based players engaging in the programme over the last two years, it gives all players an opportunity to be involved in the Welsh pathway.

WRU group chief executive Martyn Phillips believes Wales have 'secured the best man for the job' as he announces Scarlets' Wayne Pivac as Warren Gatland's successor when the Kiwi steps down from his role as head coach after next year's World Cup.

A chance to relive and rejoice in the Wales Grand Slam. Return to the atmosphere of the Principality Stadium, while we hear from Warren Gatland, Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Josh Adams, Hadleigh Parkes, Dillon Lewis and Justin Tipuric. Wales Women also had a good win, we hear from Amy Evans, Siwan Lillicrap, Jaz Joyce and coach Rowland Phillips, as well as Wales U18s Ethan Lewis.

This week we report on what could be Welsh rugby history in the making. We hear from Wales coach Warren Gatland, forwards coach Robin McBryde and prop Rob Evans on the Grand Slam clash with Ireland. Wales Women coach Rowland Phillips, along with forwards Gwen Crabb and Alisha Butchers look back at their win over Scotland and forward to Ireland, while Wales U20s coach Gareth Williams also looks forward to the Irish clash.

Enjoy the reaction after Wales' win over England extending their winning run to a record 12 matches. We hear from coach Warren Gatland, captain Alun Wyn Jones and scrum half Gareth Davies. Wales Women's coach Rowland Phillips, captain Carys Phillips and try-scoring wing Jess Kavanagh give their reaction to the England game, while we have an extended interview with Geraint John on his new role as WRU community director.